The Net Times

Please find this release attached and below.

ITF

15 August 2014

ITF watching Hutchison operations in Panama and Indonesia

The ITF (International Transport Workers' Federation) has vowed to keep a close eye on the corporate conduct of global network terminal operator (GNT) Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) in Panama and Indonesia.

In Panama, ITF-affiliated unions are now legally recognised as the most representative of workers at Hutchison's Panama Ports Company (PPC) but despite this, a company-backed, or 'yellow', union has appealed to the Labour Minister of Panama.

There have been ongoing concerns over Freedom of Association for PPC workers, while legitimate questions have been raised over tactics used by the yellow union in their appeal to the Minister.

Panamanian unions at the ITF congress today called for solidarity from comrades in other unions across the world as they continue to fight for their right to collectively bargain for better rights and conditions.

Ray Familathe, international vice president of the ILWU and ITF dockers' section vice chair, said: "Hutchison has said they will work with whoever the Government declares, but the ITF believes that they need to work with the union that really represents workers. The ITF will keep a close eye on proceedings."

Meanwhile, in Jakarta, Indonesia, workers at the Jakarta International Container Terminal are concerned over plans to extend the concession to Hutchison Port Holdings.

Unions say the port would be more profitable for the people of Indonesia if run by the Government.

They want transparency and information about the concession and are calling on the Indonesian Government to consult with the union and stakeholders before any final decision is made.

Workers protested outside Indonesia's State Palace on August 7 for job security and workers' welfare and in the past couple of days, the ITF was advised that the union believes there could be retaliation against union leaders.

The JICT union has called on the ITF to write a letter of support to the President of Indonesia.

"The situation is unacceptable. We demand that workers have access to information and a say in their future and that union leaders are not targeted for exercising their right to protest," said Ray Familathe.

"Indonesia and Panama have both been highlighted as strategic countries for the ITF in the coming four years and affiliates will keep a close eye on developments in both countries."

The 43rd ITF Congress in Sofia brings together almost 2,000 participants from 379 unions in 116 countries.

News about congress is available at www.itfcongress2014.org, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ITFglobal and Twitter at https://twitter.com/itfglobalunion (hashtag is #ITFcongress2014).

ENDS

ITF communications: getting the message out - when and where it matters

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Please find this release attached and below

15 August 2014

ITF congress vows to keep track of Amazon

The ITF (International Transport Workers' Federation) has vowed to keep a close eye on the online retailer Amazon due to its ongoing failure to provide better working conditions and collective agreements.

The ITF will work with UNI Global Union to organise and coordinate solidarity action to help workers in their fight for decent working conditions and collective bargaining agreements.

Amazon employs around 88,000 workers worldwide. In the US, Amazon has decided to engage their own employees to carry out deliveries, in order to be independent from companies that are bound by collective bargaining agreements.

In Germany, Amazon is not prepared to enter into collective bargaining, despite strike action being organized recently on an even larger scale at multiple locations.

Christine Behle, head of transport at Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft (ver.di) condemned Amazon for providing substandard pay, health-damaging working conditions, permanent monitoring and extreme pressure to perform.

"Amazon is changing the face of the logistics industry, with bad results for workers," she said.

"In Germany there have been strikes in several warehouses, but Amazon says it will now move its distribution to Poland. We need to have an international strategy for this company."

Many Amazon employees in Europe and the US are joining unions and are increasingly participating in strike action organised by their unions to fight for their rights.

However, global organising campaigns are needed to boost the current level of union organisation amongst all employees of delivery companies working for Amazon.

ITF global head of supply chain and logistics, Ingo Marowsky said logistics workers were now integrated into global supply chains with complex power structures.

"Unions need to target the 'real employer' who has the power to change terms and conditions across the chain," he said.

"That's why the ITF has created a new unit for supply chain campaigning. We are building new alliances, and tapping into the power of unions in industries like retail, manufacturing, and energy."

ITF president Paddy Crumlin said the global union movement has all the tools to build power across supply chains.

"When you look at what the ITF has achieved in the Flag of Convenience (FOC) campaign, using the joint power of dockers and seafarers, there is absolutely no reason why we can't build power in global supply chains," he said.

International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) general secretary Sharan Burrow said her organization was fully behind the global union federations with these important campaigns.

"The ITF, along with UNI Global Union, is leading the way on logistics organising with the DHL campaign. It is also very important that the global movement develops an effective strategy to organise Amazon.

The French affiliate of UNI Global Union – Confédération générale du travail (CGT) - recently went on strike over better working conditions, with the full support of ver.di and the ITF.